First-quarter revenue of $490 million exceeded estimates of $481 million. The company said operating margins "expanded by 240 bps year-over-year and outperformed our model by 70 bps (gross margins outperformed by 20 bps while SG&A margin outperformed by 50 bps)."

The new railcar backlog as of Nov. 30 was 13,500 units with an estimated value of $1.43 billion (average unit sale price of $106,000), compared with 14,400 units with an estimated value of $1.52 billion (average unit sale price of $106,000) on Aug. 31, 2013, the company said.

New railcar deliveries totaled 3,700 units for the quarter, compared with 3,500 units for the quarter ended Aug. 31. Received orders for 2,500 new railcars valued at $230 million during the quarter.

Subsequent to quarter end, Lake Oswego, Ore.-based Greenbrier received orders for another 1,100 units valued at approximately $130 million, the company said.